A continuous fuzzy Petri net tool for intelligent process monitoring and control

This paper outlines the structure and implementational features of a new methodology for intelligent process control called continuous fuzzy Petri net (CFPN). This methodology integrates Petri nets, fuzzy logic, and real-time expert systems to produce a powerful tool for real-time process control. This tool has been applied to the monitoring of an oil refinery processing unit. The developed system can relieve the operator from monitoring sensor data information and allow him to concentrate on the higher level interpretation of the occurrence of events. Based on an object-oriented programming style, the paper discusses how the CFPN is constructed to provide a software support environment to aid process control engineering activities such as: system modeling, operational analysis, process monitoring, and control